Flange spreader



Patented June 6, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLANGE SPREADER William P. Liston, Richmond, Calif.

Application April 27, 1943, Serial No. 484,724

6 Claims.

The invention relates to a device particularly adapted for separating abutting anges of adjoining pipes and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable device of the character described which may be readily clamped or otherwise removably mounted upon the pipes and having members arranged to be inserted between the flanges, which are adjustably supported for accurate positioning and easy operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which will effect the flange spreading operation without strain on the device or of the pipes, and yet may be easily operated to spread the anges to any extent desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is very simple in construction, may be easily carried and operated by hand, and may be used for a wide range of different sizes of pipe with one size of the device.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted Within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the spreading device of my invention applied to adjoining pipes.

Figure 2 is an end view of the device as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan View of the device as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged rdetailed view of a portion of one `of the spreader members, taken at right angles to Figure- 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary end view similar to Figure 2, but showing a modified form of part of the device.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the device as shown in Figure 5.

Frequently, and particularly in case of pipe lines formed of heavy and large diameter pipe, the flanges of adjoining pipes become so frozen together that even though thevfastening means, such as the bolts, are entirely removed, extreme difficulty is encountered when it becomes desirable to remove a pipe section from the line or pry any of the abutting anges apart in order to replace a gasket therebetween. The difllculty thus encountered, is especially prevalent, where the pipes orV the pipe line is anchored in position.

With the use of the device of my invention, which may be readily applied to the pipes or line, the separation of the anges may be readily eiected regardless of how firmly the same are held together.

In brief the device comprises a supporting frame arranged to be clamped to the adjoining pipes at opposite sides of the abutting ilanges and having two or more b-ridge portions arranged to span the flanges, there being adjustably mounted on the bridge portions, wedge members which are arranged to be positioned at the meeting point of the flanges and may be operated to move inwardly at such point to force the flanges apart thereat.

More speciiically described, the device of my invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, comprises an open frame 'l of generally rectangular form and composed of two or more opposed sections 8 and 9 connected together by side sections I'2. The latter are arranged to be clamped or otherwise secured directly to the pipe sections I3 and I 4 having the flanges I6 which are to be spread apart. Preferably the sections I2 are designed to form at least in part, the means for clamping the frame to the pipes, and in the embodiment now being described, each of said sections is provided with an integral oiset portion I1 in which the pipe may be seated, and a clamping arm I8 which preferably corresponds in shape with the offset portion II but is arranged to be mounted and held on the section I2 in oppOsed relation to the oiTset so that the pipe may be held rmly therebetween. One end of the arm is hingedly connected to the section I2 by a pivot pin I9 while the other end is designed to be releasably secured to said section by a bolt 2l or the like. By holding the arms outwardly the frame may be readily positioned on or removed from the pipes. It will be noted that with this arrangement for mounting and holding the supporting frame on the pipes, the frame may be applied or removed directly from the side of the pipes so as to thus avoid the necessity of slipping the frame over an end of the pipe. In order that the same frame may be used with equal facility with different sized pipes, the section I2 may be provided with several holes 22 so that the arm I8 may be clamped in various positions.

The sections 8 and 9 of the frame combine with the associated portions of the section I2 to provide yokes, and the frame is arranged to be positioned on the pipes so that such yokes bridge or straddle the anges of such pipes as clearly shown in Figure l. Mounted on each of the sections 8 and 9, are the flanges separating members proper, and such members as here shown include threaded stems 24 engaged in correspondingly threaded blocks 25 which are mounted on the sections and supported for movement in slots 26 thereof to permit the blocks to be moved longitudinally thereof. The inner endof the stems extend toward one another and between the side sections l2, and each stem has provided at such ends a sharp edged wedge 21 designed for insertion between the abutting faces of the pipe anges.

The wedges are preferably connected to the stems by a swivel joint so that when the wedges are advanced into engagement with the iiange surfaces, the wedges may rotate to a limited extent relatively to stem and thereby adjust itself to any minor misalignment with the stem. As will be clear from Figure 4, the swivel connection between the wedge and stem is made by means of a ball 28 extending from the wedge and engaging loosely in a socket 29 in the stem. It should be noted that when the wedge is held back against thestem, opposing shoulders 3l and 32 of the parts will abut.

Movement of the blocks 25 in the slots, so as to adjust the position of the wedges axially of the pipes, may be effected by means of threaded stems 33 mountedin xed threaded bosses 34 on the framey sections 8 and 9 and connected by a swivel joint V36Y tov the blocks 25. Ready gripping of the stems 24 and 33 to effect rotation thereof is affordedby hand-Wheels 31 or the like provided at the outer ends of the stems. Preferably the outer end of the stems is formed square in cross-section so that if the situation requires, the handwheels may be replaced with a conventional ratchet Wrench or otherY suitable turning device.

A-modied form of the supporting frame and the means f clamping the same to the pipes is shown in Figures and 6. In this embodiment, the sections 4I vand 42 of the vframe arranged to be, positioned at the opposite sides of pipe are Y made separate, but are designed to be held together and to the pipes by means of chains 43. Thelatter are preferably secured permanently at p one-end to the side portions 44 of one section'by means ofeyebolts l46 01 the like, while the other endisarranged tombe detachably connected to the- ,sideportions 41 of the .other frame section by Ameansof a fork-48 or the like between the prongs of .which the links may be held.l As will be clearl `from, Figure 5,. the. chains serveA to clamp the frame portions 44 and 41 against the sides of the pipe, while atr the same` time the chains likewise engage the pipe.Y In vthis manner, the frame may beirmly held in .position `on the pipes, but any necessary axial displacement of the pipes in the Y frame will be permitted.

s and'lposition `the wedges directly opposite the abutting. faces ofthe flanges or the gasket which is interposed, therebetween. The stems 24 are then rotated to advance the edge ofy the wedges into the gasket and between the opposing faces of the flanges, and such movement is continued until thedesired amount of separation of the flanges Vis effected. The axial displacement of the pipes in the frame occasioned by the spreading action, will be permitted without strain on the frame since the engagement of the frame with the pipes is such as to allow the pipes to slide therein while retaining a fn'ctional grip therewith, and in any event the design and construcping units at transversely opposite sides of the sections and in spaced relation from the flanges,

-for insertion and retraction between the anges.

2. In a portable device for spreading apart abutting end flanges of adjoining pipe sections, spaced pipe-gripping units each formed with sections arranged for cooperation to embrace the pipe sections at longitudinally opposite sides of the flanges, parallel supporting members extending between and connecting said gripping units and arranged to span the flanges at transversely opposite sides thereof, and wedging members carried by said supports intermediate said gripping units and adjustable longitudinally of the pipe sections and mounted to move toward each other for insertion between the flanges.

3. In a'portable device for spreading apart end flanges of adjoining pipe sections, opposed yoke members, means at the ends of the yoke members for-connecting said members together and for clamping same to the pipe sections, and iiange Spreading members mounted on said yoke members for adjustment longitudinally thereof and for movement to and from each other.

4. In a portable device for spreading apart end flanges of adjoining sections of pipe and the like; opposed frame portions, opposed portions xedly securing said first portions together, means on said opposed portions for clamping same to said pipe sections, a block mounted on each of said first portions for movement thereon, and a wedge carrying member mounted in each of said blocks and for movement to and from each other, and means to hold saidrnembers in different positions. Y

5. In a portable device for spreading'apart end flanges of adjoining sections of pipe and the like; opposed yoke members, chains adjustably connecting said yokes together adjacent the ends thereof and arranged for clamping same to pipe with the yokes on opposite sides of the pipe, blocks slidable longitudinally on saidA yokes, means to move and retain said blocks in position, a stem carried by each of said blocks for movement between said yokes, means to move and hold' said stems in position, and a wedge carried by each of said stems at its inner end.

tion of' the frame'is such as to enable the side sections to ex to allimited ,extent to permit the 6. In a, portable device for spreading apart end anges of adjoining pipe sections, opposed spaced supporting members, means 'connecting said members and embracing said pipe at longitudinally spaced points, means carried by veach of said members for movementbetween the members and including a part with a shoulder, and a wedge having a substantially loose universal swivel connection with saidpart and provided with a shoulder engageable with the first shoulder when the wedge is backed against said part.

WILLIAM P. LISTON. 

